Wednesday 27th August 2025 - Newclose County Cricket Ground, Newport GG #1045

 Alison's photos

Mark's photo

We returned this week to Newclose County Cricket Ground to carry on with pulling Himalayan Balsam.  We were working in the north part of the site and there were vast quantities of HB – enough for all of us….  The HB is now very mature and the plants (unless they are very small) are either in flower or with ripe and ready to burst seed pods.  We all wore a natty canvas pouch in which we collected the seed pods (kindly loaned from Gift to Nature).  This does help to reduce the seed bank, and the collected pods will be composted.

Thank you to Newclose CCG for the refreshments.

Wednesday 20th August 2025 - Brading Down, Brading GG # 1044

 Alison's photos

Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)

Fleabane (Pulicaria Dystenterica)

Bladder campion (Silene vulgaris)

Berries of Black Bryony (Dioscorea communis)

Mark's photos

The new fencing along the Downs

Ready for collection

We returned this week to Brading Down for one of our perennial tasks – ragwort pulling.  This assists Gift to Nature in managing this lovely site with its far reaching views.  Unfortunately, the dry summer has really had an effect on the Downs, and the chalk grassland was very parched.  Brambles and ragwort, however, survive quite happily. We worked along the site from west to east and although there was quite a lot of ragwort it was relatively easy to pull out of the ground.  All pulled ragwort was stacked near the car park and will be removed by Gift to Nature rangers within a few days.

Thank you to Mark for his photos.

 

Wednesday 13th August 2025 - Newclose County Cricket Ground GG #1043

 What could have looked like a rather overcast day was in fact a bit of relief for us from the recent heatwave, the 3rd I think so far this summer! So more comfortable temperatures for us while we searched in the wet woodland here, located between the R. Medina and cricket pitch, for Himalayan balsam to de-seed and pull up.  We found plenty! 🌺🌺🍃🍃🌺🍃🌺🍃🌺🌺🍃🌺🍃

But yes we are gradually making progress, as always with a glance first at the most upstream point, then working our way downstream. Pointless pulling downstream until the source of the seeds floating past is removed.

Newclose County Cricket have some fixtures coming up, why not drop in and enjoy this great facility, which we are lucky to have on our doorstep.

Wednesday 6th August 2025 - Merstone Stream, Blackwater GG #1042

 Terry's photos

This week we returned to the Merstone Stream, Blackwater, last visited a month ago, to continue with the battle against Himalayan Balsam.  There were significant patches of HB on the banks of the stream to the north of the cycle path.  Fortunately, the stream had dried out (although still muddy) and we were able to cross it relatively easily.  A couple of the team donned waders and broached the stream to the south of the cycle path to work along the banks.  As we worked, we collected the flower and seed heads as the seed pods are ripening and will shortly be exploding.  Some seed pods have, of course, already spread their seed, but we will have reduced the seed bank.  By the end of the session there was a noticeable difference to the amount of HB visible from the cycle path.  A great effort – well done all!

Thanks to Terry for the photos.